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And the inscription. Non ducor, duco.

He handed the sword back to Alfred and took his own once again. “It’s been too long, brother.”

Toren placed his own sword between them—a silent invitation. It had indeed been too long since he and his brother had met on the practice field. Truth be told, he’d much rather parry with his brother than with the lad.

Alex looked back and forth between Toren and the boy, then told Alfred, “It seems you’ve one more day’s respite.”

* * *

It was only much later, after the training had ended, that Alex realized Toren had deliberately dissuaded him from practicing with Alfred.

He and his brother had always been close, and they’d become inseparable after losing their parents—their father to death and their mother to England.

Which was why Alex knew, without question, that something was amiss.

And he would discover what it was.

4

“Alfred.”

Oh dear.

So far, Alex Kerr had demanded little of her. Much to her relief, he’d kept his word and made no demands for assistance with his person. And despite their close proximity in the west tower, she’d seen him only once on the way to break their fast. The conversation had been brief.

Since she took pains to avoid the other men as much as possible when not training, Clara had thus far raised no suspicions. She’d begun to let down her guard, if only a little, and planned to venture down to the river where they trained the next morn so she could bathe before the household awoke for mass. She’d watched the gatehouse through her narrow bedroom slit at that early hour, and it seemed there was enough activity for her to avoid rousing anyone’s suspicion.

But it would seem her streak of good luck had come to an end. Alex had called her out earlier for not training with the others, and Clara was sure she would now be asked to answer for it. She could wield the sword Gilbert had made for her. Crafting a weapon made for her small hands had been an easy task for him, but while Gilbert had wielded a sword passably well, and a dagger even more so, he’d been no trained knight. So he had paid others to train her. She could likely hold her own against the young boys who trained back at the castle, but she didn’t dare take up her sword against a grown man, especially not the large, braw men trained by Alex.

She turned and allowed the others to walk ahead of her back to the main keep.

“Why did you not train with the men?” Alex asked her.

She chanced a glance up at him and wished she hadn’t. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and the sleeves of his loose tunic were rolled up, revealing thick, muscled forearms beneath.

“Look at me, Alfred.”

Oh dear, indeed.

She did. His bright hazel eyes stared back at her. They were lighter than his brother's, more green than brown. His smile was usually easy, from what she could tell, but he was certainly not smiling now.

The man staring down at her was a pure, unbridled warrior exuding strength and power.

“You’ve not yet bathed.”

Though she had cleaned up with the cloth and water basin, it was true that she had not washed the dirt off her face. She couldn’t risk it. Nor could she continue to meet his gaze. He unnerved her. Not in the way some men had, as if they posed a threat. But there was an awareness of him, of his handsome looks and constant smile that she could not easily dismiss.

“If you’re to continue to train with the men, I’ll know why you didn’t join them today. And why my brother has taken such an interest in you. And—” he looked beyond her as the last of the men left the area, “—from where you come.”

So many questions. But she was prepared with answers.

“In serving as a tournament squire, I fear I’ve had little time for my own training. I believe your brother took pity on me at Condren. And as to your last question,” she said, drawing on the words she and Gilbert had rehearsed so many times. “My master was killed at the Tournament of the King when I was but ten and six. I’ve been following the tourney ever since.”

“Who was your master? How old are you?”

“His name was Sir Robert Kinney. I am ten and eight.”

“Lady Juliette said you were from a prominent family.”